Interventional Radiology

Treatments for Cancer

• Biopsy: IR is able to collect tissue samples for the diagnosis of various cancers with the use of a small collection needle and the guidance of ultrasound, CaT Scan, or with the use of fluoroscopy (real-time X-ray) 
  *ask your primary care physician if you qualify for lung cancer risk screening
• Tumor Ablation:  IR is able to destroy cancer tumors and preserve healthy tissue by using a small probe inserted into the tumor which delivers either extreme heat or extreme cold to the cancer site.  Tumor ablation can be performed for Liver tumors, Lung tumors, Kidney tumors, and Bone tumors
• Targeted Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy:  Specific procedures for the treatment of Liver tumors

Vascular Evaluation and Treatment

• Angiogram; visualize blood flow to areas such as the lower legs and offers the ability to expand narrowed areas within the blood vessels and place stents if needed
• Fistulogram Interventions: IR is able to review the function of an existing dialysis fistula by using contrast dye and fluoroscopy.  Interventions such as inserting a stent into the fistula is able to be completed during the procedure if needed.

Vascular Access (long term Intra-Venous catheter or Dialysis catheter placement)

• Port Placement:  A long-term IV Porta-catheter is placed under the skin in the chest to be used for such treatments as chemotherapy. The IV Port is placed while using real-time X-ray.
• Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Placement: Provides IV access for multiple days to multiple weeks for those patients with difficult IV access or needing multiple doses of IV medication/fluids.
• Dialysis Catheter Placement: Catheter placement using real-time X-ray to provide temporary or long-term dialysis.  The catheter is positioned with easy access along the chest.

Men’s and Women’s Services

• Embolization of Enlarged Prostate or Uterine Fibroids: 

Microscopic beads are placed within the blood vessels which feed either the prostate for men, or to the blood vessels which feed fibroids (non-cancerous tumors) within the uterus for women.  This procedure causes the prostate or the fibroid to then shrink in size.

Pain Services

• Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation:  RFA can be used to treat back and joint pain.  With the insertion of a small probe, radio waves are used to heat up and destroy the nerves which are causing pain in the back or in the affected joint.

Steroid Injection: Using fluoroscopy, IR is able to directly inject steroid into an area along the spine or at a joint in order to reduce pain when spin or joint surgery is not recommended.